Last week, I was standing in Tropical Smoothie waiting to order my Lean Machine, when I heard my name. "Stephanie? Deal Diva?"

It was a reader named Maya. She loved the blog, and my shoes (yay), but she had a suggestion. She was a busy mom who most days resorted to wearing the same old jeans and clogs. Wasn't there a motherly Diva on the planet with fashion advice for women like her?

I could have devised some tips on my own, but I have no children. That's kind of like a dude with no hair giving out blow dry tips. I asked for help from Susan Thurston, looking lovely above, our very stylish colleage and mother to a beautiful little girl. I've never seen Susan look less than put-together in an effortless way. How does she do it? Read on, moms of the world, for some honest advice from someone on your team.

Deal Diva Stephanie

Good moms are known for being kind, nurturing and patient. But fashionable? Not so much. Some days, just getting out of the house with matching socks can seem like an accomplishment. But a little planning and attention to details can go a long ways in preparing you for the stylish, adult world.

Here are some of my fashion tips for looking good or, at least, presentable.

Limit gym clothes to the gym. Sure, sporting sweats and a T-shirt around Target is comfortable, but it's also frumpy and screams "mom." If you must, trade the T-shirt for something form-fitting with a lower neckline and couple it with a zip-up jacket. Save the XL "2004 Walk Against Alzheimer’s" T-shirt for when you have a headache and aren't in the mood for you-know-what.

Lose the baseball cap. While Faith Hill looks sexy strutting around with her three daughters in a ball cap, the majority of us don’t. Your greasy hair isn't really that noticeable, especially from a distance. And if you’re really concerned about your mange-y mane, try a ponytail with a headband or big sunglasses.

Accessorize. Spruce up outfits with scarfs, like this one from Old Navy, belts and jewelry. (Wedding bands and diamond studs earrings you got for high school graduation don’t count.) Don’t leave the house without cute earrings, even if it means no time for mascara. Accessories are cheap and interchangeable. And they always fit.

Avoid high-maintenance clothes. That silk blouse looks great fresh from the dry cleaners but goes downhill fast. And who has time to iron? Rather than banish wrinkly clothes to the Siberia of your closet, buy stuff that looks good after multiple wearings.

Ditch the mom jeans. If your jeans cover your belly button, call a sitter and get to the store. Quick. Because, let’s face it. If Jessica Simpson looks bad in mom jeans, so will the rest of us.

Go for some heel. Nothing says frumpy like a dirty pair of sneakers or banged-up Aerosoles. A little heel dresses up any outfit and adds confidence to your step. If you're constantly on the go, try a kitten heel, like these $12.99 black numbers from -- can you believe it? -- K-Mart!

Mimic good style. Grab a People magazine when the kids are asleep and take some fashion tips from the celebs. Even if you can’t dress like the stars, at least you’ll know not to wear that peasant skirt in your closet.

Invest in a few good pieces. We all wish the sales clerks at Nordstrom knew us by name, but who has the budget? Instead, spend a little extra on clothes you wear a lot — jeans, slacks and jackets — and go cheap on the trendy stuff, which won’t last many fashion cycles anyway. Be cautious about buying too much at Target and Walmart and don’t pooh-pooh places like JCPenney and even Sears, which have decent quality clothes and great sales.